CHARACTERIZATION OF THE INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE INDUCED BY CORNEAL INFECTION WITH PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA

In order to characterize the inflammatory response to corneal infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, ocular cytokine and arachidonic acid metabolite levels were determined in the C57BL/6J strain of mice. The effects of topical anti-inflammatory drugs on the ability of the mice to clear viable P. aeruginosa from the eyes during the 12 day infection period was also examined. Ocular IL-1 alpha, IL-6, and TNF-alpha were detected over an 11 day time period. Little or no bacteria, as determined by quantitative plate counts, was detected after this time period. The kinetics of the cytokine production varied from one another, with an immediate release of peak levels of IL-1 alpha within 24 hours after infection which did not begin to approach baseline until 9 to 11 days after infection. Five to ten-fold lower concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-alpha were detected. IL-6 levels were induced at 24 hours after infection but there was essentially no distinct peak time-point. Peak levels of TNF-alpha were detected at 6 days post-infection. The kinetics of arachidonic acid metabolite release from infected eyes were also examined. Peak levels of PGE(2) and TxB(2) were observed at 6 days post-infection whereas peak LTB(4) levels were determined at 3 days post-infection. Topical treatment of infected eyes with the two anti-inflammatory drugs, prednisolone or quercetin, resulted in higher ocular bacterial levels throughout the infection.